Paper box, carton, or tray



Nov. 7, 1939. J. J. MURRAY PAPER BOX, CARTON 0R TRAY Filed May 27, 1938 Jhn/JJYLWCW Patented Nav. 1, 1939 UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFI-ICE 4Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in merchandise containers, such as display boxes, cartons or trays. and particularly to boxes, cartons or trays of the type made of die cut and scored 5 cardboard blanks adapted to be set up in box, carton or tray form for holding merchandise for sale and display, which blanks are designed to be bundled or stacked hat for storage or shipment until their use is required and to be set uli in `container form for use in a ready, quick and convenient manner and with as few motions as possible in setting them up. More particularly my invention relates to cardboard boxes, cartons `or trays of the type comprising at least a bottom, side walls and end walls and in which the end walls are Joined to the sidewalls by infolding webs, corner portions or sections adapted to be -held with the walls in container forming position by infolding retaining naps, so that by simple manipulation of a blank the wall forming portions of the blank may be moved to a set up position and the retaining iiaps folded in place and secured to hold the formed walls in proper relative position. The invention applies to containers formed with or without top walls or top wall sections and may be constructed if desired for the double purpose of containing and protecting the merchandise from contamination while also displaying the merchandise to view when the containers packed with the merchandise are placed on shelves or on or within display cases for sale or dispensation to customers.

Containers of this character are used for the packaging of various kinds of merchandise in various conditions, i.' e., dry, moist or frozen.

For the packaging of goods in a dry state containers of plain or unwaterproofed cardboard may be used if sufficiently tight to prevent entrance of dust and dirt and to otherwise protect the goods from contamination. For the packaging of moist or frozen goods, however, waxed (paraillne'd) or other suitable waterproofed cardboard must be used, and the container should in all other respects be proof against entrance of dirt, dust or moisture and from leakage of moisture from moist goods or liquid resulting from the casual defrosting of frosted gods.v The low sales prices of some kinds of goods require the manufacture and sale of the containers at a low 50 priceand the rapid setting up of the containers and packaging of the goods therein. It is, therefore, desirable from an economic standpoint that a simple form of container, waxed or unwaxed as required, be provided which is suitable for gen- 55 eral or more or less universal use in packaging different kinds of goods in various conditions with respect to presence or absence of moisture, 'and that it be capable of being rapidly set up for use and admit of the easy and quick packaging of the goods therein. It is also desirable and im- 5 portant for these and other obviousv reasons that the retaining flaps be so formed and held that they may be quickly turned to retaining position and secured in such position against accidental release, to adapt the container to be more or less 10 roughly handled or even dropped without liability of release of the aps and the opening of the package and exposure of the goods to the atmosphere or escape of the goods.

It has heretofore been common to secure the l5 retaining flaps of such containers in holding position by tongue and slit connections. These, besides being unreliable in their holding action, and in that the tongues are liable to be torn away and the slits to be enlarged, thus making 20 a blank unserviceable, are not suitable for package of moist or frosted goods in the containers because the slits allow leakage of moisture. The use of metallic keepers for the flaps has been suggested, but these are undesirable in pack- 25l projections on the retaining flaps, but 'each of these suggested constructions is objectionable asl causing additional steps of manufacture or the use of additional material increasing the cost of manufacture. Where such strips or inner side wall plies are used on a waxed container the surface to which they are glued must be dewaxed before the gluing can be done. Double side walls furthermore are generally unnecessary and merely add undue bulk, weight and cost to the container in all the processes of manufac- 45 ture, namely, printing, die-cutting, scoring and gluing.

One object of my invention is` to provide a container of the charac-ter described which obviates all the aforesaid objections to prior containers and which furnishes a simple construction of liquid-tight container capable of being used for the general packaging of dry. moist or frozen goods Another object of my invention is to provide vide a type of retaining ap and holding means therefor which ensure the brac-ing of the side walls in the region of the end walls and the iirm retention of the ap even when the package is roughly handled or casually dropped, thus giving better protection to the package and goods.

With these `and other objects in View, the invention consists of a container embodying the novel features of construction, combination and relationship of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in Which- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a box or car-v ton form of container embodying my invention, the same having top cover or wall flaps.

Fig. 2 is a view of one end of the outspread blank from which said container is formed.

Fig. 3 is a view of the blank end shown in Fig. 2 in partly set up condition.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal transverse section on line 4-4 of Fig. 5 through one end of the containe shown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive.' I

Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudinal section on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section similar to Fig. 4, taken on line 6--6 of Fig. 7, showing a modification in the construction of the container.

Fig. 7 is a vertical longitudinal section on line 1 1 of Fig. 6.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, of the drawing, A designates a box or carton type of container embodying my invention, which is made from the die-cut form ,of folding blank fragmentarily shown in Fig. 2.

'I'his blank is cut and scored to provide a main portion I forming the bottom of the container, portions 2 forming the side walls of the container, and-portions 3 forming with coacting portions 4 the end walls of the container. The portions 4 as shown join the ends of the side walls 2 to the contiguous portions of the end walls 3. Said portions 4, in addition to being foldable along scored lines at their points of connection with the side and end walls, are also foldable along diagonal score lines so as to be disposed in folded position on the inner sides of and parallel with the end walls. 'I'hese portions 4 provide infolding corner webs or bellowsfolding corner sections to close the spaces between the side walls and end walls and operate by their infolding movements to draw the side and end walls into proper relative box or carton .forming relationship.

The parts thus described are adapted by proper manipulation to be readily and quickly set up from the blank form shown in Fig. 2 to the container form shown in Fig. 1. In performing this set` up operation a flat blank is held in the hands of the operator and pressure exerted to raise the side and end walls, the pressure upon such. walls causing the corner sections 4 to fold or collapse inwardly and close the spaces between the side and end walls, in

which collapsed condition the portions 4 will lie against the inner faces of the end walls. 'Ihe end portions or walls 3 are provided at their outer or upper edges with flaps 5 which are adapted to be turned or folded downwardly and inwardly toward the bottom I and over the inflded corner portions 4 to hold the wall forming parts in set up position.

If the container is to be of box or carton type \the side walls 2 may be formed with flaps 6 providing a divided top wall or cover formed of similar half sections. These iiaps 6 may be held closed by any suitable means, and may be cut away or recessed, if desired, to provide display openings or windows to display the merchandise in the box, which may be protected from contamination by a wrapper of its own or by a wrapper encompassing the box or carton. In the event that the container is to be of opentopped or tray type the flaps 6 are dispensed with.

In the form of my invention shown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, each flap 5 is made of a length or width conforming substantially to the width of the box, or distance between the side walls 2, and preferably of a depth a little greater than the depth of the end wall to which it is attahed, so that when said flap 5 is folded downwarelly it will be compressed or placed under tension causing its free edge 1 to bear frictionally against the bottom wall 2. The flap is provided at its ends with bracing and locking flanges 8 adapted to be bent at right angles thereto and to lie, in the folded condition of the box,v against the side walls 2. Each flange 8 is of suitable width to span the space between the4 ap 5 and an inwardly extending keeper boss or abutment rib 9 formed on the adjacent wall 2 against which the free vertical edge of the flange bears when in locking position. Each flange 8 when so disposed preferably rests at its lower edge upon the bottom wall l and is of a height or depth approximately equal to the depthof the lower half of the flap 5 or of suiiicient depth to give flrm support to the end of the flap locked thereby against any tendency to move inwardly. Each keeper boss or abutment is vertically elongated to provide a rib of suincient length for bearing engagement with its coacting flange substantially throughout the full c rib having its closed side facing inwardly and.

its open side facing outwardly. This rib, by reason of its form, as well as its effective length or depth, firmly braces the side wall at the locking point. As the bosses or ribs 9 are spaced inwardly from the end walls a distance equal to the widths of the flanges, which may be made of a fairly effective size. the flanges are adapted to bear against the side walls 2 and to stiften and reinforce the same adjacent to the end walls to give greater strength to such walls at the end of the container and greater resistance to such bending of the walls as would be liable to cause release of the flanges. 'I'he security of the locking action is further increased by reason of the fact that as the ilap 5 is under tension it exerts a pressure tending to wedge the iianges with a tight binding engagement against the ribs 9.

In Figs. 6 and 'I Ir have shown a tray form of container A' which, except for the omission of the cover naps 6, is generally similar in form tioned at a point in the width of the container so as tobe engaged at a point in the length of the flap 5 between the anges l. With this construction the flanges 8 and abutments 0 hold the ends of the flap 5 from shifting inwardly while the bosses I hold the center of the flap from bulging inwardly under all ordinary pressures falling thereon, thus preventing shortening of the ilap and possible release of the `iianges 8 from the abutments 9 due to suchcause. y i It will be observed that the bosses are so arranged and the locking portions of the iiaps i so coact therewith that in the folding action of such flaps the locking portions thereof will snap over and back of the bosses so as to be held and locked thereby in such a secure manner that. the container may be roughly handled or even dropped without liability of casual release of the flaps or of the package becoming unfolded from such cause. of the locking elements is also such that, the side and end walls are strongly bracedin the region of the corners of the container, allowing a strong construction of container to be made without the necessity of using inner flaps on the side walls or otherwise bracing the same.

InV all the forms of the invention above described the bosses which are@ die pressed from the material forming the walls or surfaces from which they are pressed are imperforate, leaving no slits, openings or crevices through which moisture may leak from the package or through which dirt, dust or moisturemay enter the package. These bosses may be of any suitable size and form for the purpose, and provide bosses of maximum strength and shape to best serve their intended purposes. The bosses may be round, square, elongated or rib shaped, or of any form and size, and any number and arrangement of them suitable for the purpose may be employed.

As above described, the construction of the container allows of the container being quickly set up from a flat Vblank by upward pressure upon the end walls thereof. It will thus be understood that containers embodying my invention may be formed from ilat blanks as rapidly as any other container expressly constructed for the purpose, and with less motions than is possible with the use of tongue and slit or other similar interengaging fasteningsrequiring a precision iitting of the fastening elements together, as with my construction the retaining flaps may be folded over to retaining position simultaneously with the folding of the body walls toset up position, and in such folding movements the retaining flaps will be automatically brought into locked engagement with the bosses without any necessity of bringing parts for a precision fit together.

As hereinbefore set forth, it is desirable from the standpoint of economy and to secure better protection of goods, to provide a container of the character described which may be employed for packaging dry, moist or frozen goods. My invention fulfills a very definite and long felt want in these particulars, as the container blanks not only may be stored and shipped in dat form, but

The bracing or reinforcing action these blanks may be very easily formed into containers and very rapidly illled with the merchandise, and as the locking elements which secure the retaining flaps of the end walls in position not only ilrmly hold these naps from casual disconnection, but are wholly imperforate so that the container as formed is i'ree from slits or openings allowing leak of .liquid into or out of the container. My invention thus overcomes the lmanifold disadvantages incident to the use oi.' tongue and slit Iconnections. My invention also obviates the necessity of employing double side walls, or side walls with inturned plies glued thereto and cut away to provide keepers, as well as the necessity of gluing flap holding partsl in place, as well as the expense of dewaxing previously waxed blanks in order that such parts may be glued in place. My improved container may be made of plain, unwaterproofed or unwaxed material for the packing of dry goods of various kinds and moist materials of many kinds where leakage of employed for the packaging of frozen goods and the packing of various other kinds of materials where the use of an absolutely water-tightconstruction of container is necessary. v

It will thus be seen that my invention provides a container which may be inexpensively manufactured, rapidly formed for use, and Ilocked to maintain its parts in set up position in a secure manner. Also it will be seen that the invention provides a container which. when made of plain material, will be generally proof against the entrance of dust, dirt or contaminating substances at points where the parts thereof are locked and fastened together. When the container is made of a waterproof material, all parts thereof, including points where elements are locked together, will be imperforate and proof against leakage of moisture into or out of the container. By the elimination of double side walls or auxiliary ap holding parts, and the elimination of glued parts, the expense of dewaxing is avoided and the amount of printing, die-cutting, scoring and other steps of manufacture materially reduced.

From the foregoing description, taken in con nection with the accompanying drawing, the construction, mode of use and advantages of my improved box, carton or tray will be readily understood without a further and extended description. While the structures shown for purposes of exempliflcation are preferred, it will, of course, be understood that changes in the form, proportions and arrangement of parts other than those shown may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit or sacricing any of the advantages` of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. A foldable container of the character described formed from a single sheet of flexible material and comprising a bottom having side walls, end walls, and corner portions foldable inwardly between the ends of the side walls and the end walls, each side wall being of a'single thickness of the material and each end wall being provided with a retaining flap adapted to be folded downwardly and inwardly therefrom over said infolded corner portions to hold the same in infolded position, inwardly extending and vertically elongated.

bosses forming abutment ribs on the side walls adjacent to but spaced inwardly from said webs, said abutments being pressed from the material of the side walls, and bracing and locking flanges on each retaining ap adapted to be bent inwardtom wall, side walls, end.walls, corner webs connecting each end wall with the side walls and adapted to fold upon the inner faces of the end walls to dispose the side and end walls in set up condition, and a retaining ap carried by each end wall and foldable downwardly over the folded webs to hold the walls in set up condition, each of said side walls consisting of a single thickness of the sheet material of which the container is formed and being provided at a point spaced from but adjacent to each end wall with an imperfof rate reinforcing and keeper boss integral with and pressed inwardly from thematerial of which the wall is formed, flanges on each retaining ap adapted to be bent inwardly. therefrom to lie in contact withthe inner faces of the side walls and to engage the adjacent bosses thereon whereby to hold the ap in retaining position, and integral imperforate bosses impressed from the material of which the bottom wall is formed and projecting upwardly therefrom to engage the retaining aps at a point in the length of each flap between the flanges to prevent inward bulging and shortening of the flaps under pressure and disengagement of the ilanges from the bosses.

3. A structure of the character set forth in claim 1 wherein each boss is in the form of a U- shaped hollow rib elongated in the direction of height of the side wall and having its closed side facing inwardly and its open side facing outwardly.

4. A foldable container of the character de'- scribed formed from a single sheet of flexible material and comprising a bottom having s ide walls, end walls, corner webs foldabie inwardly'between the ends of the side walls and the end walls, each side wall being of a single thickness of the material and each end wall being provided with a retaining ap adapted to be folded downwardly and inwardly therefrom over said infolded corner webs to hold the same in infolded position', inwardly extending bosses forming abutments on the side walls adjacent to but spaced'inwardly from the webs, said abutments being pressed from the material of the side walls, bracing and locking iianges on each retaining flap adapted to be bent inwardly therefrom to lieI in bracing contact with the inner faces of the side walls and to engage the adjacent abutments thereonl to hold the ap in holding position, and abutment means projecting upward from the bottom vwall to vengage each retaining iiap at a point inthe length of the flap between the anges thereof to prevent inward bulging and shortening of the ap and disengagement of said flanges from the abutments.

JOHN J. MURRAY. l 

